Cowboys were the quintessential American heroes: the embodiment of rugged individualism and independence. For a century and half, they ruled the frontier, settling the American West and carving their way into American mythology. But the hazardous frontier, where law and order were often little more than a man with a badge, also bred some of America's most infamous outlaws, whose reputations still inspire awe. Using recovered letters, journals, and books, as well as archaeological and forensic evidence, this two-disc set unveils the true stories behind these heroes and villains of the American West.